Game On!

Video Game History From Pong and Pac-man to Mario, Minecraft, and More

Find out about the fast and furious growth and evolution of video games (including how they are quickly taking over the world!) by looking at some of the most popular, innovative, and influential games ever, from Pong , the very first arcade game ever, to modern hits like Uncharted .

Learn about the creators and inspiration (Mario was named after Nintendo's landlord after he barged into a staff meeting demanding rent), discover historical trivia and Easter eggs (The developers of Halo 2 drank over 24,000 gallons of soda while making the game), and explore the innovations that make each game special (The ghosts in Pac-Man are the first example of AI in a video game).

Whether you consider yourself a hard-core gamer or are just curious to see what everyone is talking about, Game On! is the book for you!

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Like the title suggests, Game On! is a book about video games. It talks about the history of video games. The author, Dustin Hansen, starts with Pong and ends by talking about VR. He doesn't cover every game ever made, but he does a good job of putting in some variety. He mainly focuses on games that have had the most signifiance in the industry, have broke some records, and had a wide target audience.
Though I wouldn't consider myself a hardcore gamer, I actually learned a lot about different games that I've played or just heard of (and some that I've never heard of), and enjoyed reading about why these games are so special to the author and the VG industry. I also liked the random trivia and seeing the author's list of favorite video game characters and lists (sometimes we had some favorites in common).
I think that Game On! is for everyone and not just for hardcore gamers. Hansen talks about a bunch of different games, and there's bound to be a section that interests you. Even if you're not that into gaming, you'll still come away from this book with a lot of new knowledge (or a bunch of random trivia). Another thing that makes this book good is that it is easy to read and not specifically targeted toward one audience.

It's a banquet of video game knowledge. Inside the book is information about both old stars like Pac-Man and Pong, to modern games like Overwatch and Angry Birds. This book is necessary for those who seek the ultimate game guide.